The empty lot you see before you was once the site of the Alden Vilas Mansion. This home was a mansard style house built for Alden Vilas, who was a well known businessman in Ogdensburg. He was born in Vermont in 1806 travelling on foot to Montreal and arriving in Ogdensburg in 1822. He and his cousin, Erastus Vilas, operated a tannery together until 1831 when he opened a shoe and boot business on Ford St. He married Ellen Baldwin in 1837. She was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Chandler Baldwin and they had 10 children. Mrs. Vilas died in 1884. Mr. Vilas served as a village trustee for 2 terms in the 1840s and died September 26, 1899.
The next residents of the house were William L. Proctor and his wife Dolly Howard. Mr. Proctor was the manager of Skillings, Whitney & Barnes Lumber Co. He was born in New Hampshire in 1837 son of Israel Proctor and Mary Barnes and died in New Jersey in 1897. Mr. Proctor was very active in the community and is credited in securing the location of the state hospital in Ogdensburg. He was mayor of Ogdensburg from 1870-75 and 1884-86, was a member of the First Baptist Church and superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. In addition he was a founder of the city hospital and orphan asylum. Mr. Proctor was also active in the Republican Party. He was part of the Republican State Committee and was a national delegate and presidential elector, voting for Benjamin Harrison in 1888.
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Dolly Howard Proctor was born in Ogdensburg in 1842, the daughter of Rev. Joel Howard and Nancy Cronkhite. She married William Proctor in 1861 and they had six children. Mrs. Proctor established the Howard Cold Water Brigade, a temperance organization, which helped many young men better themselves and establish themselves in careers. She loved the Adirondacks and always invited those with health problems to come with her. Mrs. Proctor was a member of the Swe-kat-si chapter of the DAR and was a relative of President Taft. Dolly Proctor remained in the house until 1904 when Mr. and Mrs. John Seely purchased the home.
John A. Seely descended from Joab Seely, who came to Ogdensburg in 1820 and was a part of the Seely’s who formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. John Seely was in the jewelry business at 226 Ford St. with his father until his father’s death. This was later the site of the Hippodrome Theater. In 1890 Mr. Seely organized a brass fixture company called J.A. Seely Manufacturing and patented a number of inventions including a steering gear for power boats. He married Elizabeth Chapman in 1890, who was the daughter of Richard and Amanda Chapman. Mr. Seely was active in St. John’s Episcopal Church and the Century Club. Elizabeth Seely was vice-president of the Society of United Helpers for many years. After her husband’s death in 1921 Elizabeth Seely remained in the house until she died in 1932. After being vacant for several years, Frank A. Augsbury purchased the house and unfortunately demolished it in 1936.
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